AP member Chavar Dontae shared his new short film/music video for rock/electro song 'On My Way' with us.
The "indiesoulrocknroll" EP (Submerge Recordings) was co-produced by Dylan Ely (whose work credits include Linkin Park, Ludacris, Cyndi Lauper).
" 'On My Way' is an independent art film that blends elements of narrative cinema, traditional music videos, and avant-garde filmmaking. The film portrays an artist who sacrifices a loving relationship in order to pursue his passion. After he returns home, he struggles to cope with the memories of his ex-lover (...)". Directed by Nathan Elias. - Afropunk

TuneCore Artists are releasing tons of new music every day. Each week we check out the new TuneCore releases and choose a few at random to feature on the blog. - Tuncore Blog

-- Podcast interview with singer-songwriter and recording artist Chavar Dontae --

Check out Chavar Dontae's interview on the Start A Fire web series. The July 2014 podcast interview chronicles a journey from 2007 to present and future project. Chavar talks about coming from relative obscurity to getting attention from outlets such as MTV Artists. The video footage is a time capsule from the Ohio music scene in 2008. Other episodes feature Hit The Lights, Jeremy Lublin from We Are The Fury and Jeremy and The Harlequins, and more. - Crooked Abe - Start A Fire

As someone whose passion is music (both listening and playing/performing), I tend to look forward to pieces that involve film and story images being set to music as the background. It brings back a bygone era where a music video was made to help tell a story behind a song and showcase the artist’s musical, artistic, and performance ability. Chavar Dontae’s music video/short film for his song, “On My Way” (directed by Nathan Elias) is one of those pieces of story-telling work.

“On My Way” tells the rather simple, yet poignant, story of an artist sacrificing a loving relationship in order to go pursue his dream and life-long passion. He does ask her to come with him, but she is unable to accept his proposal. Later, the artist returns home to find that his former love has moved onto another relationship. The artist copes with his memories and the acceptance of his initial decision to leave. The film can provoke the question of destiny and if things are meant to be. Or is it our own free will that can dictate the outcome of our destiny? Or can it be a little of both?

“On My Way” combines the art of narrative cinema, traditional music videos, and avant-garde filmmaking. Each element in the film works seamlessly with the other and it makes for a very well put together piece of art. Nothing seems to drag nor is the pace so quick that you don’t even know what you’re watching. The artist (Dontae), the director (Elias), and the rest of the filmmaking team were able to take three different elements of filmmaking and put them together beautifully without anything feeling forced. Overall, I think it’s a fine piece of art and I feel it has great potential to be enjoyed by a wide audience. - Rouge Cinema

The film is based on the EP “indiesoulrocknroll:about a girl from westland” by recording artist Chavar Dontae. The film is centered around the song “On My Way” from the EP and features a remix version of the song as well as Dontae’s power ballad, “Don’t Leave”.

On My Way is an independent art film that blends elements of narrative cinema, traditional music videos, and avant-garde filmmaking. The film portrays an artist who sacrifices a loving relationship in order to pursue his passion. After he returns home, he struggles to cope with the memories of his ex-lover when he sees her with another man.

On My Way addresses the difficulty of saying goodbye and moving on with life, a theme shared with Dontae’s EP. “Indiesoulrocknroll: about a girl from westland” tells a story about lost love while holding on to a positive outlook on life, sometimes with a devil-may-care attitude, which Dontae expresses as a necessity for walking away from heartbreak with style.

The “indiesoulrocknroll” EP was released in June 2011 on Submerge Recordings out of Detroit, MI and was co-produced by Dylan Ely whose discography includes artists such as Linkin Park, Ludacris, and Cyndi Lauper. The EP features the songs “Smile”, “On My Way”, “One More Try (It’s Complicated)”, “New Day”, and “Don’t Leave”. Dontae wrote, performed, co-produced, and arranged all instrumentation on the EP. Classically trained in guitar, Dontae’s music is a brazen, lo-fil montage of Soul, alternative Rock n’ Roll, electronic pop, and new wave Hip-Hop.

As an artist, Dontae explores multiple mediums of creative expression. Primarily a musician and recording artist, he has recently stepped toward acting and film production. In 2010 Dontae was featured as lead actor in the short film, Il y avait un année aujourd’hui à Cozumel directed by Nathan Elias. The film was an official selection for the Toledo Museum of Art’s Winter Ball Film Festival, and was Dontae’s first time working with Elias. On My Way is the collaborative effort between Elias and Dontae. - Cliche Magazine

And now time for something different!

On My Way is an independent art film that blends elements of narrative cinema, traditional music videos, and avant-garde filmmaking. The film portrays an artist who sacrifices a loving relationship in order to pursue his passion. After he returns home, he struggles to cope with the memories of his ex-lover when he sees her with another man. On My Way addresses the difficulty of saying goodbye and moving on with life, a theme shared with Dontae’s EP. “Indiesoulrocknroll:about a girl from westland” tells a story about lost love while holding on to a positive outlook on life, sometimes with a devil-may-care attitude, which Dontae expresses as a necessity for walking away from heartbreak with style.

The “indiesoulrocknroll” EP was released in June 2011 on Submerge Recordings out of Detroit, MI and was co-produced by Dylan Ely whose discography includes artists such as Linkin Park, Ludacris, and Cyndi Lauper. The EP features the songs “Smile”, “On My Way”, “One More Try (It’s Complicated)”, “New Day”, and “Don’t Leave”. Dontae wrote, performed, co-produced, and arranged all instrumentation on the EP. Classically trained in guitar, Dontae’s music is a brazen, lo-fil montage of Soul, alternative Rock n’ Roll, electronic pop, and new wave Hip-Hop.

As an artist, Dontae explores multiple mediums of creative expression. Primarily a musician and recording artist, he has recently stepped toward acting and film production. In 2010 Dontae was featured as lead actor in the short film, Il y avait un année aujourd’hui à Cozumel directed by Nathan Elias. The film was an official selection for the Toledo Museum of Art’s Winter Ball Film Festival, and was Dontae’s first time working with Elias. On My Way is the collaborative effort between Elias and Dontae. Check the video out here! - MUZU.TV

Chavar Dontae is no stranger to the local Toledo scene. In fact, he’s not even quite a stranger on the national scene either. A product of our little rust belt area, Chavar travelled to L.A. for a stint where he honed his songwriting skills and used his time reflecting back on home and life to write and record an EP titled, indiesoulrocknroll: about a girl from westland. The writing came with a fresh approach to style, incorporating inspiration from artists as varied as Jimi Hendrix, Prince, MGMT, and Cee-Lo Green, and began to include elements of pop, electronic, and, of course, indie, soul, and rock n’ roll. The result is a fresh, breathy, yet complicated and contemplative six-track record that evokes a look at both an artist exploring new territory and one looking deep inside to do the too rare work of sorting one’s self out.

The result of the work was a stand-out single, “On My Way,” for which Chavar filmed a video with director Nathan Elias and actress Stephanie Wandtke. Videos for independent artists aren’t as common as they should be, and that fact is proven through the success of “On My Way.” Within months of its release, the video racked up acclaim in print and online from the likes of The Blade, Afro-Punk, MUZU.TV, Cliché Magazine, Film Slate Magazine – along with many more – and saw acceptance to the 2012 Texas Film Festival. (Scroll down to view the video below).

After a few years of hard work, writing, recording, and marketing – doing most of it himself – and playing a few sparse local shows, Chavar Dontae is preparing to celebrate his recent successes in a big way with an upcoming solo show at Mickey Finn’s. In light of the success of “On My Way,” the EP, and the show, we caught up with Chavar for a quick chat to talk about the what, why, and how of it all. Read on below.

Chavar Dontae plays Mickey Finn’s (602 Lagrange St.) on Thursday, September 6. Bassel & The Supernaturals open. 9 p.m $5. www.innovationconcerts.com www.chavardontaerocks.com




This is the first kind of big Chavar Dontae headlining performance in Toledo in quite some time, why now?
So many things have been happening for me recently it felt like the right time. The “On My Way” short film/music video was officially released July 22 and “On My Way (acoustic)” was released September 4th, along with the electronic version being released later this month. It also gave me an opportunity to help out fellow musicians from Chicago [Bassel & The Supernaturals].



“On my Way” has received some really nice press and awards over the past year. Which of the mentions and/or awards, etc. mean the most to you?
All of them are special but there are a few that really stand out. Cliche Magazine because it was the first, MUZU.TV which is huge in Europe, Complex Media Network, the WTOL broadcast, MRU, Afro-Punk, and Toledo.com was the first in this region to cover it, that is really special. There have been a lot mentions, but they are all special to me. The radio and all of the blogs as well. And definitely being reviewed Rouge Cinema, the Making Of On My Way by Film Slate Magazine and being accepted as a Texas Film Festival Official selection



A lot of people probably don't realize how hard you work for your career, doing the old school hustle of shuffling fliers and posters around, talking to people individually to get them to come to shows, etc. In your opinion, is this something lacking in the new scene? How inter-twined are the hustle and the music?
All my role models in music and in business were not above working hard to reach their goals. Managing my own destiny has always been important to me. I feel like it's easy to fall into the trap of the digital realm and thinking that it replaces the old school grind. That digital-only hustle does not work if you're playing outside of your home town. Besides, I like getting out and meeting people. The hustle and the music totally go hand-in-hand. Having a product worth hustling for is important though, because it requires so much energy. It's about 90 percent business/hustle and 10 percent music but it's worth all of the hard work to connect with people.



The EP, indiesoulrocknroll, is a tight but grand little concept album. It is apparent that there is a lot being addressed here, a lot personally and emotionally, but to me the thing that comes across most is this record is about Chavar finding Chavar, both topically in the songs and in the sound, style and craft. Is that accurate? From going into this record to coming out of it and even enjoying some of its successes, do you feel like its kind of a gateway record for you? Or, is it more of an opus? I guess, is the door opening or closing here?
You are absolutely correct. indiesoulrocknroll:about a girl from westland was written all over the country and is part of the old me (“new day”), transition (“one more try”), finding my voice and the direction I'm moving in (“smile”), (“don't leave” and “on my way”). The bonus versions that will be released on vinyl as well, “On My Way (acoustic)” and “On My Way (Star Signal Remix)” give some hints about where I'm going. It's a gateway record in many ways. I'm on this journey, on my way, and this record is a snapshot of my journey.



Lastly, we all deal with them, what do you have to say to "the haters?"
Nothing.



Anything else coming up you want people to know about?
People have the chance to get “On My Way” played on 92.5 KISS for sure if they call in and request it. Same with Star 105.5 and the acoustic version on 89X. These stations are having me on live and/or playing my music. I'm really hoping Toledo area people harass the stations until they put in rotation. I’m just trying to take the noise I'm making to the next level and having the support of your hometown is key. The same way Cleveland supports Cudi and MGK. Or the same way Detroit supported the White Stripes and Big Sean. The people just need to hear it and they will get behind it.


Ryan Bunch - Toledo.com

On My Way - Chavar Dontae - yourmusictoday

Recording artist Chavar Dontae has been instrumental in keeping Toledo's music scene alive and eclectic throughout the years. As a former member of various jazz groups and patron of well-respected establishments like Rusty's and Murphy's, Dontae will never forget his roots, no matter where his creative endeavors lead him.

"I will always consider Toledo home," Dontae said. "I came up on the original music scene here."

Skilled as a jazz and classical guitarist (with a B.M. in Guitar Performance from BGSU), Dontae has dabbled in fashion, music production, acting, and lately, filmmaking. His experiences have taken him all over the place, spending significant time in NYC, Atlanta, L.A., and Europe.

"The culture and energy in those places really changed my perspective," Dontae said. "Besides a few shows in 2009, I really stopped playing and started writing and producing other projects—some hip hop, some electronic, pop and rock. During that time I began moving in a new direction, totally getting outside of my usual writing process and incorporating elements from all of my experiences and travels. That's when I found my voice."

While he still travels quite a bit, Dontae returned to the Glass City in 2011, when he resumed teaching lessons at the Youth Treatment Center through the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. He also wrote and co-produced the EP, "indiesoulrocknroll: about a girl from westland" with the help of long-time friend and supporter Dylan Ely (who has worked with artists including Linkin Park, Ludacris, and Cyndi Lauper). The EP was released in June 2011 from Detroit's Submerge Recordings, and features the tracks "Smile," "On My Way," "One More Try (It's Complicated)," "New Day," and "Don't Leave." All five songs were written and arranged by Dontae himself.

"The EP is a juxtaposition of soul rock and indie electronic music,' Dontae said. "I wrote those songs all over the country, wherever I was at the moment. It's a musical and emotional journey. It's coming to terms with the truth and being honest with myself. Allowing myself to be vulnerable."

As it turns out, a little vulnerability goes a long way. Out of the EP came an equally revealing video project that has recently garnered national media attention, with Dontae receiving press from Cliche Magazine, LX-GOODs and NME Magazine's website. The On My Way film includes a segment from "Don't Leave" and the original version of "On My Way" from the EP, as well as the "On My Way (Star Signal Remix)."

Shot on location in Toledo, On My Way was a collaborative effort between film director Nathan Elias and Dontae. The film features appearances by Dontae and Toledoan Stephanie Wandtke, as well as numerous Toledo landmarks like the Toledo Museum of Art, St. Clair Street and the Old West End neighborhood.

"We decided to film it here and include local elements because it's our reality. It's how we see see the world; it is our world," Dontae said. "Perhaps the same reason John Hughes shot many of his films in Illinois. I wanted to share the beautiful things I see everyday in my neighborhood that inspire me."

Chavar Dontae's EP, "indiesoulrocknroll: about a girl from westland" is available worldwide on iTunes and Amazon. Be sure to check out On My Way at YouTube link below. - See more at: http://www.toledo.com/news/2012/01/26/frogtown-features/chavar-dontae-brings-some-soul/#sthash.Ph6CJh9r.dpuf - Toledo.com

Thursday on Your Day and FOX Toledo Daybreak, musician and Toledoan Chavar Dontae stopped by to put on a show.

Chavar brought a remarkable energy to our newsroom with his performances of "Baby It's You" and "Running".

Chavar's next show in our area is Saturday, April 12, at Martini & Nuzzi's Lounge in Maumee. - WTOL

Come kick it with the Innovation Crew every Sunday at Frankie's Inner-City while we enjoy the latest in local, regional and national music brought to you by Toledo's Zone and Innovation Concerts. Doors open at 5:30pm and the show starts at 6pm!! After the show, enjoy a live set from this week's local feature artist Chavar Dontae!! Even if you can't make it, be sure to tune in every week to 100.7 The Zone from 6pm-7pm for the latest in local music news, concert calender updates and to check out the featured bands! July 6th 6-7pm EST listen or stream on the following. Terrestrial: The Zone 100.7 FM Toledo Area HD: 105.5HD2 Streaming: toledoszone.com Apps: Toledo's Zone iHeart Radio Listening party will be at Frankie's from 6-7 followed by a mini set. FREE So come out and listen to my interview and song broadcast with us:) The entire show will be awesome. - 97.1 The River

great video out of T-Town… - Think Faesthetic

Chavar Dontae 100.7 The Zone On The Radar Interview 7/6/14 - 100.7 The Zone

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